Apparatus for making gas.



I PATENTED MAY 23, 1905.

O. N. GULDLIN. APPARATUS FOR MAKING GAS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31, 1902.

A No. 790,296.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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wit" zoom PATENTED MAY 23, 1905.

0. N. GULDLIN.

2 SHEETSSHIET 2.

gnveutoz APPARATUS FOR MAKING GAS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31,1902.

' wibdeooeo UNITED STATES Patented ma 23, 1905.

OLAF N. GIILDLIN, OF FORT WVAYNE, INDIANA.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING GAS- SPEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 790,296, dated May 23, 1905. I Application filed July 31,1902. Serial No. 117,888.

To ctZZ whom, it may concern: 7

- Be it known that I, OLAF N. GULDLIN. a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Wayne, in the county of Allen and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Making Gas; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to apparatus for manufacturing illuminating water-gas comprising a generator, a carbureter, and a fixing-chamber or superheater and to certain improved features of construction in the carbureter.

The object of my invention is to provide for more evenly and quickly heating the fuel to incandescence in the generator and more effectively decomposing steam, resulting in an increased percentage of carbonic oxid and a corresponding decreased percentage of. carbonic acid in the water-gas. By the use of my divided air-blast at higher pressure or in larger volume more complete and uniform combustion of the fuel is effected, muchmore rapidly heating and restoring the same to incandescence down to the grate-bars. The producer gas while passing off from the generator at a high heat does not contain so large a per cent. of combustible gas, for the reason that such gas has been burned in the body of fuel, highly and uniformly heating the same for more effectively decomposing the steam which is subsequently admitted.

Another object of my invention is to provide an extended height of carbureting and fixing chambers containing a greater extent of heating-surfaces, so that such surfaces may be of a comparatively lower tem peratu re-that is, a dull red heatfor converting the oil-vapors by longer exposure into heavy carbureted hydrogen gas of high candle-power without loss-of illuminants in the form of lampblack or hard carbon or formation of marsh-gas.

- Another object is to provide for better arresting and removing ashes in the pipe and flue connection between the generator and the carbureter; also, for better carrying the oilvapors from the vaporizing and mixing chamber down into the fixing-chamber containing checker-bricks, where they are combined with the water-gas to make fixed illuminating-gas.

, spots in the bedof fuel and forming channels or chimneys along the wall or through the body of fuel, leaving other portions of the fuel insuflicientl y burned and heated and making an uneven fire. Asa result of this defective heating operation the steam when admitted escapes through said channels or cooler part of fuel-bed without thorough decomposition, resulting in an excess of deleterious carbonic acid instead of the desirable carbonic oxid which should be made to the exclusion of carbonic acid when making water-gas. Owing to these difficulties and other causes a comparatively low blast-pressure, usually from twelve to sixteen inches, has been carried, whereas by my method a high air-pressure of from twenty to twenty-four inches or more can be carried by means of my divided jets directed to strike in between adjacent gratebars, and more complete and uniform combustion of the fuel is eflected, more rapidly heating the same, making a smaller per cent. of carbonic oxid and a larger per cent. of carbonic acid, and materially increasing the capacity of the apparatus.

By my improved method of operation and features of construction the defects and difliculties above mentioned are overcome and greatly-improved results secured.

My improved apparatus is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a vertical section, partly in elevation, of the apparatus. Fig. 2 represents a horizontal section of the sameon the irregular line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a vertical section showing a modification of the pipe connection and uptake-flue in the c'arbureter. Fig. 4 represents a horizontal section on line 4 4, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 represents a sectional detail view showing ports for admitting gas and air into the upper part of the vaporizing-compartment.

The gas-generating furnace A is constructed of an iron shell and a fire-brick lining in the usual manner and is provided at the top with a fuel-opening a, closed by a lid is and fastening device a," and at the bottom by the usual ash and clinker openings a and a, which in practice will be closed by suitable doors. A steam-supply pipe S, havinga valve, connects with the top of the generator through a cast iron or steel box w, secured in the firebrick arch, as shown, and another valved steam-pipe, S, connnects with the ash-pit, either directly or through the blast-pipe J.

.The box w serves to deflect the steam downward without injury to the brickwork. The gas-outlet pipes B and C connect, respectively, at top and bottom of the generator and are in practice each provided with a valve-box like the box B shown at the top. The gas-outlet pipes B and C connect, through the deliverypipe B with the uptake-flue D, or pipe 0 may connect directly with line I), which is connected with the vaporizing and mixing compartment E of the carbureter D. The valve-box B is connected between the gasoutlet pipe B and the delivery-pipe B and is preferably provided with an annular hollow seat g for the ball-valve f; but this special form of valve-box and valve may be omitted.

At one side of carbureter D is constructed the brick-lined uptake-flue D, having connecting with its lower end the ash-receiving chamber or pocket 13, closed at the bottom by a tight-fitting door I) and fastening device 7 The gas-pipes, valve-box, ash-chamber, and uptake-flue are preferably lined with lirebrick, as shown.

To the ball-valve f is connected the rod /t, to which in turn is connected the rack-bar h, which extends up into the valve-stand H, where it is engaged by a pinion (not here shown) having a hand-wheel G, supported at the top of the stand. These devices are described and covered by claims in my Patent No. 6%,511, dated February 27, 1900.

The uptake-flue D, Figs. 1 and 3, connects by opening d with the lower part and by the smaller opening d or d with the upper part of the oil vaporizing and mixing compartment E of the carbureter D, so that watergas may be intimately mixed with the oil-vapors. This flue D serves as an arresting and deposit chamber for ashes and cinders, which are precipitated therein and deposited in the ashpocket B at the lower end. thereof, so that they may not pass into and clog the passages and compartments in the carbureting and lixing chamber D. This is an improved and additional feature of construction in. the pipe and valve connection and ash-receiving chamber described and claimed in my Patent No. 6%,511 and has given improved results.

The carbureter D and the superheater Fare made of extended or increased height as compared with the generator and with such chambers as heretofore made for providing an increased extent of heating-surfacebrick checkeravork so that the hydrocarbon vapor and gas may be combined with the water-gas and made into fixed illuminating-gas at a lower temperature, resulting in a sa\ 'ing of valuable illuminants, which would otherwise be deposited as lampblack or form marshgas by overheating of thehydrocarbons. The carbu rcter D is constructed with an open brick arch near the bottom for supporting the checker-work in the fixing-chamber1 and forming a bottom gas-chamber. The oil vaporizing and mixing compartment lC extends from the brick checker-work to the top of the carbureter and serves for vaporizing hydrocarbon oil and thoroughly mixing it with water-gas. Oil-supply pipes or injectors r" are preferably placed in the wall of compartment E, but may be otherwiselocated for supplying oil spray or vapors to be mixed with the water-gas admitted through passages d and ul, Fig. 1, or ports rl. (Shown in Figs. 3 and 5.)

Air is admitted through suitable ports a into the vaporizing and mixing compartment E, Fig. 1, for burning the producer-gas admitted through opening (I, (l, or (1 for heating the brick checker-work in the fixing-compartment E below. Air may also be admitted into other parts of chamber D- for instance, as shown in Figs. 3 and L -and into various parts of the superheater F, where required, for burning the producer gas and heating the brick checker-work to the desired temperature. The lower end of chamber 1) is connected by pipe f to the lower end of superheater F. The superheater is constructed with a bottom brick arch and brick checkerwork above in a well-known manner and is provided at the top with a short smoke-stack 0, having atight-fitting lid 0. The gas-takeoff pipe 0 connects with stack 0 and extends down into a seal-box, (not here shown,) but preferably located on top of the chargingfloor.

Suitable sight-openings Z Zconneet, as shown in Fig. 1, with the top of carbureter l) and with the upper end of flue D for inspecting the interior and ascertaining the condition of the heat.

The air-blast box K, Fig. 2, is preferably placed in the brick lining of the generator at about the grate-level and has secured to it the desired number of perforated air-distributing pipes L, which are preferably arranged and supported in such manner that they will not obstruct the ash-chamber V. The free ends of pipes L may rest upon the cast-iron shoes or brackets P, permitting expansion and contraction under changes of temperature. The pipesL are provided with lateral ports at and at the top with notches or other s mcing devices l, arranged in lines between said portsports between adjacent grate-bars directly valve connection and ash-receiving chamber into the body of fuel. The details of construction and arrangement of these blast-distributing pipes are fully illustrated, described,

and claimed in my Patent No. 721,695, dated March 3, 1903. An air-blastpipe J connects with the box K and has a controlling-valve j."

I have provided, in addition to the pipe and described and claimed in my Patent No. 644,511, the uptake-flue D, Figs. 1 and 3, for better arresting ash and cinder. The vertical wall of this flue opposite the end of the horizontal pip'e'B serves as a baffle-plate for the impinging gases discharged by said pipe, causing the accompanying dust and ashes to be arrested and deposited in the pocket B This has proved to be an important feature in practice, since it prevents the checkerbrick in thecarbureting-chamber from becoming clogged with hard deposits of ash and tar or hard carbon, and thus becoming inoperative'.

Instead of constructing the uptake-flue D on the outside of the carbnreter D entirely independent or connected to same, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, I may construct such flue of special tiles within the cylindrical shell, as

shown in Figs. 3 and I. The lower end of the flue in this arrangement is inclined downward and outward'to the ash-receiving cham' ber B", so that the ashes arrested will slide down into such receiving-chamber. The flue D extends up inside of the cylindrical shell to the inwardly-projecting tile 6 and is provided with a horizontal opening d for admit ting gas andair into the compartment E. Ports 0?, Figs. 3 and 5, are provided for permitting part of the water-gas and blast-gases to pass into the upper part of compartment E. An aireblast box I is secured to the iron shell at the upper end of the fl'ue D and connects by opening e with flue D. An airblast-pipe J connects with box I, so as to be controlled by a valve 2'. Air when admitted to the blast-box passes through'opening e and mixes with the producer-gas passing up through flue D, and the mixture passes through openingd into compartment E, where combustion takes place. livery-pipe B and the ash-pocket'B may be made -in one piece'with a flange which is bolted directlyto the shell of chamber D.

A separate pipe (not here shown) may connect with the ash-pit and the valve-chamber forconducting water-gas to the carbur'eter D- instead of passing it out through the blastbox and connection. (Shown in Fig. l.)

The operation of making gas may be conducted as follows: A fire is kindled on the grate and fed with fuel, which is heated to incandescence in the usual manner; but the through ports a or 6..

The shell of the deto grate-bars and also so that a deep body thereof is uniformly heated to incandescence in much less time than formerly. The blastgases are passed through the pipe connections,

uptake-flue D, and openings d d, Fig. 1, or

opening d and ports cl cZ, Fig. 3, into the carbureting-chamber, where the combustible gases are burned by jets of air admitted The hot products of combustion and unconsumed gases pass down through the checker-work in chamber D and thence into superheater F. Air is admitted where required for completely burning the gases and heating the checker-work to the desired 1 temperature. The waste products finally escape through the stack 0, the lid of which is'open. The oil vaporizing and mixing compartment E is partly heated by radiant heat and partly by the'burning of blast-gases. Some of the air-ports c, Fig. 1, may be inclined upward for directing streams of air upward for that purpose. The body of fuel having been heated to incandescence and the chambers D'and F heated to the desired temperature, the air-blasts are shut off, lid 0 closed, and water-gas is generated by admit- Rapid and uniform decomposition of steam is thus efl'ected, producing hydrogen and car-' I air-blast is admitted to the blast-box K at a high pressure up to twenty-four inches or tingsteam into the base of the generator.-

IOO

bon 'Inonoxid, with material reduction of carbonic acid, andpermitting longer periods of gas-making, which, with the shorter periods of blast, effects a large increase in capacity of the apparatus. Steam having been passed into the body of fuel, oil is sprayed by the injectors 0 into the vaporizing and mixing compartment El As the hot water-gas rises through flue D it passes through passage d and d into compartment E, where it mixes with the oil-vapors and carries them down into contact with the hot checker-brick in compartment E, where the gases and vapors are completely combined andthen converted into lixed illuminating-gas in passing through the checker-work in chamber F. The gas finally passes off through pipe 0 to the usual sealbox and thence to the washer and scrubber. (Not here shown.) The hydrocarbon vapors passing down into compartment E are enveloped by the water -gas, which enters through opening 61, so that the hydrocarbon illuminants will not be destructively decomposedinto marsh-gas or deposited as lampblack and hard carbon on the checker-brick. After the gas-making run is completed and the apparatus again heated up, as above described, a reverse or down run can be made if steam is admitted through pipe S at the top of the generator and passed down through the incandescent fuel, where decomposition is effected. The resulting water-gas passes off through pipe C and uptake-flue D into the carbureter D.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. The combination with a gas-generator of a carbureter having at the top an oil vaporizing and mixing compartment provided with an air-inlet and a fixing-compartment below, an uptake-line having openings at the upper end into said vaporizing and mixing compartment, and a pipe connection from the generator into said flue, substantially as described.

2. The combination with the gas-generator of a carbureter, having a vaporizing and mixing compartment, a gas uptake-flue at one side of the carbureter and having an opening into said compartment, and an air-blast opening, communicating with said flue whereby the air-blast may be directed into, and mixed with the ascending gas and discharged into the vaporizing and mixing compartment, and a pipe connection from the generator to the uptake-flue, substantially as described.

3. In a gas-generating apparatus, the carbureting-chamber having a lateral gas uptakeflue, inwardly-projecting tile above said flue, an upper oil vaporizing and mixing compartment and a lower fixing-compartment, said flue having a lateral discharge-opening and one or more ports opening into the vaporizing-compartment, substantially as described.

4. The combination with the gas-generator wa es and the carbureting-chamber, of the gas uptake-flue at one side thereof and having an opening into said chamber and an opposite air-blast opening, a blast-box secured to the outer Wall of said flue and connecting therewith through said blast-opening, whereby the air-blast may be directed into, and mixed with the ascending gas and discharged into the carbureting-chambcr, and a pipe connection from the generator to the uptake-flue, substantially as described.

5. In a gas-generating apparatus, the carbureter having an upper oil vaporizing and mixing compartment and a lower fixing-compartment, a lateral gas uptake-flue having a lateral discharge-opening above the lower compartment and one or more ports opening into the upper compartment, and inwardlyprojecting tile above said flue, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a gas-generator of a carbureter having at the top an oil vaporizing and mixing compartment and a lixingcompartment below, an uptake-fine having openings at the upper end into said vaporizing and mixing compartment, and a pipe connection from below the grate into said uptakefiue, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

OLAF N. GULDLIN.

\Vitnesses:

WALTER R. \Vnavnn, L. M. J ENNER. 

